Automatic coupling with funnel-shaped head for vehicles.



K. KUNZI. AUTOMATIC COUPLING WITH FUNNEL SHAPED HEAD FOR VEHICLES.APPLICATION FILED DECA. 1914.

1,145,494. Patented July 6, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

K.KUNZL' AUTOMATIC COUPLING WITH FUNNiL SHAPED HEAD FOR VEHICLES.APPLICATION FILED DEC-4| I914.

1,145,494. Patented July 6, 1915.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

B 5* t 4. I 1y 3 I I v 5 3 5 i u i J L I/Ill K. KUNZI,

AUTOMATIC COUPLING WITII FUNNEL SHAPED NEAD FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATIONTILED use. 19H.

j 1,145,494. Patented July 6, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- all whom. it may concem Be it known that I, KARLKiinzl, a subect of the Emperor of Germany, residing at chafi'hausen,Switzerland, have invented cw and useful Improvements in Automaticdouplings with Funnel-She (1 Heads for Vehicles; and I do hereby eclarethe folowing to be a full, clear, and exact descripon of the invention,such as will enable thers skilled in the art to which it apperains tomake and use the same, reference eing had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specificaion.

The object of the present invention is an utomatic couplin with funnelshaped head or vehicles, in w ich the coupling eye arranged in thefunnel shaped head of the coupling is beveled at its exterior border toknife edge. (I; The couplings with funnel shaped heads till now in usehave the great drawback, J that the height of construction is too reatproportion to the available width of the i tunnel shaped head. Theconsequence there- 1' of is a limited possibility of employment of suchcouplings. With the coupling accordto the present invention thisdrawback f 'z'nay be avoided. For this purpose on the "-ioutside of thecoupling eye are provided I pressing and guiding surfaces lying diamet-T .icnlly opposite one to each other and beginning at the impact facesof the halves of he couplin which are directed forwardly and outwar 1yat an inclined angle, so that by an oblique encountering of the twoi'lhalvcs of the coupling. the pressing and guiding surface of the onehalf of the coupling touches the impact face of the other half of thecoupling and slides along this face till the pressing and iding surfacesof both halves of the coupling can embrace f the opposite funnel shapedheads of the coupling and complete the centering of the said heads.

In the accompanying drawings one form of execution of the ob ect of theinvention a shown by way ofexample. Figure 1 shows the two halves of thecoupling in a horizontal section andin an open of the coup mg, Fig. 3 aplan view of Fig. and, Fig. 4 a vertical section on the lineSpecification of mum Patent.

Application and December 4, 1914. serial no. 875,481.

position, F i 2 a side view of the one half.

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Patented July 6, 1915.

A-A of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 a horizontal section on the line B-,B of Fig.2; Fig. 6 shows two halves of the coupllng grippin one into the other,which lie parallel and the centers of which are displaced to each other,Figs. 7 and 8 show the same halves of the coupling in the positionswhich they take to each other by the further opposite sliding one intothe other till the complete locking of the coupling, Figs. 9 and 10 showin two succeeding phases the locking of two halves of the coupling,which touch each other under an angle and the centers of which are atthe same time displaced one to the other; Figs. 1143 show in succeedinphases the osition of the locking bolt o f the one hal of the couplingto the coupling eye of the other half of the coupling by the automaticlocking and by the disengaging by hand.

The Figs. 6-10 are represented diagram- 7 matically in a horizontalaxial section on the line B-B of Fig. 2 and the Figs. 1113 in a verticalaxial section on the line A--A of Fig. 3 through the coupling.

Each half of the coupling (Figs. 1-5) possesses a horn-like coupling eye3, which has a fixed position in the funnel 2 of the half of thecoupling and surpasses the impact face 1 thereof. the free end of whichis directed outward and toward the middle 8t axis of the funnel 2. Inthe funnel 2 of each half of the coupling there is provided a verticalbore 2' (Fig. 5), which corresponds with the bore 3' in the coupling eve3 of the counter half of the coupling (Fig. 9( 8). The bore 2' serves asa guide for the locking bolt 4, which connects the halves of thecoupling one to the other. The coupling eye is at its exterior borderformed in such a manner, that the coupling eye of one half 9. of thecoupling can pass the coupling eve of the other half of the coupling orthat the coupling eves can, if necessary slide awa one over the other inth centering action (Figs. 6 and 9). Laterally-outward of the 1 couplingeye isarranged the pressing and guiding surface 6 formed by a rib whichbegins at the impact face and is directed forward-outward (Figs. 1-5).The pressing and guiding surfaces 6 of the two halves of 1 the couplinglie opposite diametrally to each other (Fig. 1).

Each funnel 2 of the coupling has two faces 7 and 8 inclined to themiddle axis of the funnel, the faces 7 of which are straight and thefaces 8 are curved; the faces 8 serving hereby as guiding faces for thecoupling eyes 3, to center it when locking the coupling. As can be seenin the drawing, especially in Fig. 5, the two faces 7 and 8 possess atthe levelof the bore 2' a gap, forming an opening 9 for the entrance ofthe coupling eye 3 of the counter half of the coupling. To re lace thisinterrupted part of the guiding aces of each coupling funnel 2 theaforementioned pressing and guiding surfaces 6 are provided whichsurpass the impact faces 1 of each half of the coupling.

Each half of the coupling is fastened'to forked ends of a draw-bar 11 bymeans of bolts 10, which go through eyes of the funnel 2; said draw-barbeing geared on the underside of the a pertaining vehicle by means of adouble ]8.W 12 in such a mannor. that the half of the coupling togetherwith the draw-bar can move to and fro as well in a horizontal as in avertical direction. The draw-bar 11 is iided with a corresponding playin a guiding yoke 13 fixed to the underside of the vehicle (Fig. 1.).

The locking bolt 4 of each half of the coupling is loosely mounted in avertical guide 14. which is provided at the upperside of the funnel 2and is carried by an arm 15, fixed on a disengaging shaft 16. which isalso mounted on the upperside of the funnel, whereby this arm passesacross a slot in the locking bolt 4. At the free end of this arm isjoined a pawl 18 serving as a weight and presenting a nose 17. On thetwo ends of the shaft 16 there are still fixed two levers 19, whichserve as a handle to disengage the locking bolt by hand. At the back endof the funnel shaped head 2 of each half of the coupling there is stillprovided a notch 20 and to the free end of each coupling eye 3 is alsoprovided a notch 21 for the nose 17 of the pawl 18 (Figs. 1, 5," 11 and13).

The function of this coupling is the following: Supposing that the twohalves of the coupling A and B take-in a parallel position, but aredisplaced with their middle axis toward each other (Fig. 6) and canfreely move in a horizontal direction toward the one or the other side.By moving the two vehicles toward each other the coupling eyes 3 of bothhalves of the coupling may slide one over-the other and enter oppositelyin the funnel 2. The coupling eye 3 of the one half of the coupling isnow so far centered by'thefunnel 2 of the other half of the coupling,tillit' has reached the openin 9 in the ast mentioned funnel (Fig. 7),by which the centering through the faces 7 and 8 is finished. Duringthis partial centering the funnel of the one half of the coupling isbrought 1nto the reach of the pressing and guiding surface 6 of theother half of the coupling, which now centers completely the funnel 2of-the first mentioned half of the coupling and brings it in the closedposition (Fig. 8). The locking bolts 4, which are in their upperposition before the locking of the coupling and which 'sit-on with theirnoses 17 on the notches 20 of the funnels 2 of both halves A and B ofthe coupling, are held in this position (Fig. 11), and as soon asthe'pawls 18 are displaced out of the notches 20 by the coupling eyes 3entering in the openings 9 of the funnels 2 and the bores 2 and 3 lieone upon the other, the locking bolts under their proper weight and theweight of the pawls 18 and arms 15 fall into the bores 2 and 3 (Fig. 12)and effect the complete locking of the two halves A and B of thecoupling.

When the halves A and B of the coupling of two vehicles, standing in acurve, touching each other under an angle and when the middle axis ofthese halves are displaced to each other in such a manner, that thecoupling eyes 3 overlap each other (Fig. 9), the pressing and guidingsurface 6 of the half B of the coupling acts in its quality as pressingsurface and lies against the impact face 1 of the half A of the couplingand effects a. pressure upon the part of the half A of the coupling,which is directed inward the curve. This pressure prevents an outwardswinging of the half A of the coupling. The pressing and guiding surface6- surpassing the impact face 1 of the half B of the coupling holds atoncethe two halves of the coupling at a distance from each other, sothat they can be put in line oppositely and the angle formed by the twoimpact faces 1 can be reduced. This separating of the twc halves of thecoupling by the pressing and guiding surface 6 of the one half of thecou pling permits also to hold small the incli nation of the inner face8 of the funnel E on the side of the coupling eye 3 and tr limit it tothe measure of the proper angle 0' friction till a certain deepness ofthe funne 2. As is seen in Fig. 9 only the one cou pling eyes hascontact with the funnel of th counter-half of the coupling. that is tosay the coupling eye 3 of the half A slides along the face of the half13 of the coupling. Dur ing further sliding of the coupling halve intoeach other, a change of support take place, i. e.. the coupling eye 3 ofthe cou pling half B comes into contact with the fur nel 2 of thecoupling half A, while the cor pling half A comes away from the funnelof the coupling half B. (Fig. 7 shows th coupling halves some time afterthe chang of support.) From the point where tli change of support takesplace and up t fwhich point the inclination of the inner'su'rcc of thecoupling funnel at the side of the oupling projection is limited to thevalue f the friction angle proper, the inclination the funnel of thecoupling half constantly "increases and accordingly the guide surface inthe funnel of the coupling halves, be- 'nning from the point inquestion, follows convex curve (Fig. 5).

' The guiding face 8 in the funnel 2 of each half of the coupling on theside of the couling eye and the pressing and guiding surace 6 stand insuch a reciprocal relation to ach other, that the pressing and guidingurface 6 acts in its quality as guiding surace, before two halves of thecoupling take :1 a complete arallel position one to each ther (Fig. 10In the further course of he gripping one into each other of both ialvesof the coupling the pressing and guid mg surfaces 6 of the two halves ofthe couling embrace the opposite funnels and hereby complete thecentering shown in Fig. 8.

t For the disengaging of the coupling the pawl 18 of each half of thecoupling is nised in turning the shaft 16 by means of he levers 19 andis set with the nose 17 upon the notch 21 of the coupling eye 3 of thecounter-half of the coupling, thereby the ioclting bolt 4 is drawn outof the bore 3 of the coupling eye 3 (Fig. 13). The vehicles son now beseparated from each other, while at the same time the pawls 18 fall downand come to lie upon the notches 20 on the fun- Iiel 2. the lockingbolts 4 taking therefore again a position prepared for the relocking ofthe halves of the two couplings (Fig. 11). With the described automaticcoupling with funnel shaped head a greater width for the funnel inproportion to the height of construction is obtained, from which resultsa greater possibility of employment of this coupling. This relation isobtained by the arrangement of the pressing and guiding surface 6,which, as mentioned permits the reduction of the inclination in the fun-318i on the side of the coupling eye without that thereby an injury ofthe working of the coupling would ensue; a widening of the funnel isaccordingly obtained by equal remaining proportions. The inclination ofthe uiding face 8 in the funnel 2. on the side of the coupling eye isdetermined by the ar- ;1angcment of the pressing and guiding surace 6and by the inclination and form of the same.

- What I wish to claim is:

.1. In an automatic coupling for vehicles, no movably mounted couplinghalves each aving a funnel shaped head and an impact irface, a couplingeye on each of said oupling halves arranged in the funnel of he latter,projecting beyond the impact "urface and provided with a surface formedLIQGAM into a knife-edge, said coupling eyes being adapted to slide overeach other during coupling and enter into the funnel of the opposedcoupling half, means extending outside the coupling eyes and disposedadjacent to the impact surfaces of the halves of the couplin adapted tostrike against the impact surface of the opposed coupling half and slidealong the latter outwardly upon an oblique meeting of the couplinghalves to center the'latter, and means adapted to wholly lock saidhalves in their centered position.

2. In an automatic coupling for vehicles, two movably mounted couplinghalves each having a funnel shaped head and an impact surface, acoupling eye on each of said coupling halves arranged in the funnel ofthe latter, projecting beyond the impact surface and provided with asurface formed into a knife-edge, said coupling eyes being adapted toslide over each other during coupling and enter into the funnel of theopposed coupling half, diametrically opposite projections extendingoutside the coupling eyes and beginning at the impact surface of thehalves of the coupling and dirooted at an angle forwardly and outwardly,said projections being adapted to strike against the impact surface ofthe opposed coupling half and slide along the latter outwardly upon anoblique meeting of the coupling halves until the projections of the twohalves of the coupling can surround the coupling half situated oppositeand complete the centering, and means on each coupling half adapted tobe operated by the coupling eye of the opposed half upon a centering ofthe coupling to effect the com lete locking of the latter.

3. The com iination, in an automatic coupling for vehicles of twomovably mounted coupling halves each having a funnel shaped head and animpact surface, a coupling eye on each of said coupling halves arrangedin the funnel of the latter, projecting beyond the impact surface andprovided with a surface formed into a knifeedge, said coupling eyesbeing adapted to slide over each other during coupling and enter intothe funnel of the opposed coupling half, diametrically oppositeprojections extending outside the coupling eyes and beginning at theimpact surface of the halves of the coupling and directed at an angleforwardly and outwardly, said projections being adapted to strikeagainst the impact surface of the opposed coupling half and slide alongthe latter outwardly upon an oblique meeting of the coupling halvesuntil the projections of the two halves of the coupling can surround thecoupling half situate opposite and complete the centering, a horizontalshaft on each coupling half, a slotted locking bolt on each couplinghalf adapted to fall in bores of the coupling eyes and funnels to effecta complete looking of the coupling, an arm fixed on each of saidhorizontal shafts and passing through a slot of one of said bolts, apawl jointed to each of said arms and acted upon by the coupling eye ofthe opposed coupling halfvupon a centering of the coupling, and leverson each of said shafts adapted to rotote the latter and lift the boltacted upon 1( by this shaft out of its locking position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

KARL KUNZI.

\Vitnesses:

ERNST Fxsonnn, CARL GUBLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C.

